Chuck Hagel has emerged as the leading candidate to become Obama’s next Secretary of Defense and may be nominated as soon as this month, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Hagel, who served as an enlisted Army infantryman in Vietnam, has passed the vetting process at the White House Counsel’s office, said one of the people. The former Nebraska senator has told associates that he is awaiting final word from the president, said the other person. Both requested anonymity to discuss personnel matters.

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Hagel's name has previously been floated for the DOD job, so the report isn't exactly a surprise. Still, it does provide the best signal yet that the former GOP senator is the clear front-runner for the post. The White House, for its part, isn't confirming or denying anything, saying only that it doesn't expect any official nominations this week.

Hagel is known for having quite the independent streak, something that would clearly be a prerequisite for crossing the aisle to join a Democratic administration. Still, he'd nonetheless add a second shot of GOP to the president's team. Currently, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is the only card-carrying Republican member of Obama's cabinet.